Chapter 25: City Logistics and Freight Transport

The movement of goods within urban areas is vital since cities are the center of economic and social life in modern civilization. However, freight movement often puts a considerable strain on urban transport infrastructure and imposes high social costs in terms of crashes and environmental intrusion. Congestion levels in urban areas are rising as a result of increased urbanization and car usage. Cities are now facing global competition for investment, and trade with an efficient transport system is necessary for sustained economic prosperity.

The holistic goals of an urban freight system are to enhance economic performance while minimizing the adverse social and environmental effects. These generally involve decreasing costs and increasing efficiency while containing environmental damage and social intrusion as well as ensuring high levels of safety (Hicks, 1977). This chapter initially identifies the key stakeholders involved in urban freight and then describes city logistics- an integrated approach to urban freight problems. A summary of major issues for each key stakeholder involved in urban goods movement is presented as well as a number of case studies describing several effective city logistics initiatives that have already been implemented.